Royal Caribbean has released new cruise itineraries in Asia with spectacular options onboard Spectrum of the Seas in 2026 and 2027.
With voyages from 2-9 nights, guests will appreciate more diverse ports of call along with longer and more immersive stays that really give travelers a chance to explore the best of Asia.
Sailings will depart from Shanghai and starting in November 2026, from Hong Kong as well. Japan is a highlight of many itineraries, with stops in stunning ports such as Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Okinawa, Kumamoto, Ishigaki, Osaka, Nagoya, and Hakodate. The exact route and port calls will depend on the length of the itinerary and the sailing date.
Outside of the Land of the Rising Sun, Spectrum of the Seas is also offering itineraries featuring Busan and Jeju in South Korea and Hue in Vietnam, among other destinations.
Worth Reading: Viking Cruises Returns to China, Expands Asia Routes
“This is one of our most exciting lineups yet, with incredible new destinations and longer, more immersive itineraries,”said Benjamin Bouldin, President, Royal Caribbean International China.“From vibrant cityscapes to breathtaking coastal escapes, these new adventures are designed for travelers looking to experience the best of Asia in a whole new way.”
The new itineraries are now open for booking and are sure to fill up fast. From quick 2-night cruise to nowhere getaways to the cruise line’s first-ever 8-night Asian adventures, these sailings offer something for everyone.
The 2026-2027 season also features special holiday sailings with themed entertainment, seasonal menus, and unique holiday festivities onboard for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. And what better way to ring in the new year than on a cruise?
An Asian-Inspired Cruise Ship
Spectrum of the Seas was specifically designed for the Asian market and has become a favorite with cruisers in the region, as well as travelers from around the world. She is homeported year-round in Asia, always offering diverse sailing options.
The 169,379-gross-ton, Quantum-ultra class ship offers all the world-class dining, adrenaline-inducing thrills, and energizing entertainment Royal Caribbean is known for.
Special features include the iconic, all-glass North Star observation pod, perfect for getting unparalleled panoramic views of every outstanding destination.
Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the Seas Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: mokjc)
For more active thrills, the SeaPlex is the largest indoor sports complex and entertainment center at sea, featuring a full-size basketball court and even bumper cars.
Guests can enjoy refreshing fun with craft cocktails made by robots at the Bionic Bar, sip exquisitely at Vintages, enjoy live piano performances at the Schooner Bar, and more.
Foodie guests won’t be disappointed onboard Spectrum of the Seas either, with a range of globally-inspired tastes from Jamie’s Italian to Sichuan Red. The Noodle Bar, Teppanyaki, Izumi, Dog House, Chop’s Grille, and more are also available, as well as Royal Caribbean classics like the Windjammer and Chef’s Table.
Each evening’s entertainment comes to dazzling life with cutting-edge performances, including “Silk Road” and “The Effectors” – both top shows all ages can enjoy.
With so much to offer, the new itineraries throughout Asia are sure to sell out quickly. Interested guests should book early to enjoy the best prices, widest selection of itinerary options, and their choice of preferred staterooms.
As major cruise lines are making shorter Caribbean getaways a priority (think Royal Caribbean, which created one of the world’s biggest vessels just for 3- and 4-day voyages), Sir Richard Branson’s cruise line looks to be following suit.
Although no official announcement has been made, eagle-eyed passengers – or Sailors – have spotted Virgin Voyages swapping Valiant Lady’s 10-plus-night cruises with shorter, 6-, 7-, and 8-night journeys.
And the transition has not been well received by all, with guests booked on 2025 and 2026 Caribbean sailings sharing their frustrations on social media and calling out the cruise line for cancelling their long journeys in favor of shorter options.
“Here I am again, forced to choose between lesser sailings with ports I’m not interested in or losing a large sum and my MNVV [My Next Virgin Voyage] deposit if I choose a refund,”lamented one guest.
“My 10-day Thanksgiving week cruise out of San Juan was just cancelled as Virgin is changing to shorter sailings,” he posted.
“Same thing for us,” wrote another. “It looks like they are getting rid of the 10-day cruise and replacing it with a 7-day cruise.”
“Just got an email our trip was cancelled (no explanation)! Guessing this is why,” added an additional Sailor.
It appears there are four cancelled itineraries for the 110,000-gross-ton, 2,770-passenger Valiant Lady.
They begin with the Thanksgiving 10-night “Sun-Soaked Seas & Saint Isles” cruise, departing from Valiant Lady‘s San Juan, Puerto Rico, homeport on November 22, 2025.
Additionally, two 10-night voyages departing on December 2, 2025, and January 31, 2026, and an 11-night cruise departing on February 10, 2026, have been affected.
The vessel’s new itineraries have not been released, but at press time, Virgin Voyages teased a big announcement that will be revealed on March 12, 2025.
Options for Virgin Voyages Sailors
Although not all passengers receiving cancellation notices were given options, Virgin Voyages is, in fact, offering them to anyone sailing on one of its cancelled cruises.
One guest said the cruise line offered her party the choice to transfer to an 11- or 12-night adventure on the brand-new Brilliant Lady, making her debut as Virgin Voyages’ newest and final vessel on September 5, 2025.
Departing from the vessel’s homeport in Miami, itineraries include a 12-night journey to Curacao and the Cayman Islands on November 8, 2025, and three 11-night options departing December 7, 2025, and January 4 and February 1, 2026.
Those sailings will visit Willemstad, Curacao; Oranjestad, Aruba; Cartagena, Colombia; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; and George Town, Grand Cayman.
While many of the calls were featured on some of the cancelled cruises, none of them feature previously scheduled stops in the Virgin Islands, St. Kitts, Antigua, Martinique, Barbados, St. Lucia, or St. Maarten.
As a gesture of goodwill, passengers who opt for a Brilliant Lady sailing also receive $100 in Sailor Loot per cabin. (Not per person, however.)
Those not interested in rescheduling to the new ship, currently under construction at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Italy, have 60 days to rebook one of six shorter sailings on Valiant Lady.
The cruises will sail from San Juan between November 22, 2025, and February 14, 2026. Guests will also receive $100 in Sailor Loot per cabin.
There is no mention of receiving any price differential back as a refund, nor any mention of compensation for flight changes. The final option for affected Sailors is to accept the cancellation and receive either a Future Voyage Credit (FVC) or cash.
March 11, 2025 marks a great day for Carnival Cruise Line – their 53rd birthday! While it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for the world’s most popular cruise line, that they’ve withstood a wide range of challenges is a great testament to the wonderful vacations they offer.
Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, marked the occasion with good wishes, sincere thanks, and a very nostalgic photo.
“Carnival Cruise Line is 53 years young today,”he noted.“Thank you, sincerely to all of you, for cruising with us over the last 53 years. I really do thank you for continuing to make Carnival Cruise Line the most popular cruise line in the world.”
It isn’t just guests who make a cruise line great, however. Carnival Cruise Line would not be the stunning company it is today without its amazing crew members – from the cruise line’s executives and high-ranking “beards” to the newest crew members just starting their training.
“Thank you also to every single Captain, officer, staff, and crewmember for their hard work and dedication and for bringing millions of passengers and then guests the best vacation and a massive dollop of FUN,”Heald acknowledged.
Two Mardi Gras
There have been a lot of changes on Carnival Cruise Line through the years, the most visible of which is the ships themselves.
Heald shared a fantastic photo of the line’s very first vessel, the original Mardi Gras, which first entered service in 1961 – twelve years before Carnival Cruise Line would set sail. The ship was originally known as Empress of Canada for Canadian Pacific, before the brand new Carnival Cruise Line bought the vessel in 1972.
The first Mardi Gras – not to be confused with today’s Excel-class Mardi Gras – measured just 27,284 gross tons and was 650 feet long, with 10 decks. She could welcome just 1,248 guests onboard and was staffed by 470 crew members.
Today, the modern Mardi Gras measures 181,808 gross tons and 1,130 feet long with 19 decks. She can welcome 6,500 guests at full occupancy, and is home to 1,735 international crew members.
Clearly, there’s a key difference in size between the two ships, but there are even more differences. The original Mardi Gras did not have the iconic whale tail funnel, as that feature was not introduced until Tropicale in 1982, the first ship built exclusively for Carnival Cruise Line.
Two Mardi Gras (Credit: Carnival)
The original Mardi Gras did not offer “private facilities” (bathrooms!) for all guests, but rather some staterooms shared bathrooms. Today’s Mardi Gras, of course, has all private baths as is now expected.
Today’s ship also offers a much wider range of amazing features and onboard experiences. While the original Mardi Gras boasted very few onboard features, the modern ship offers not only pools, whirlpools, spa facilities, a fitness center, and youth areas, but also the first rollercoaster at sea, miniature golf, a video arcade, dynamic show spaces, and so much more.
What hasn’t changed between the two ships is the fun – the experience Carnival Cruise Line seeks to offer every guest.
Even on that very first Mardi Gras, Carnival offered more onboard activities and vacation vibes than other cruise lines offered at the time, ensuring a fun experience for everyone aboard. Today, the dedicated cruise directors and Fun Squad team members work diligently to ensure every Carnival cruiser enjoys their vacation.
A Growing Fleet
Of course, the size of the line’s fleet has also changed dramatically. In 1972, Carnival Cruise Line consisted of exactly one ship, while today, on the line’s 53rd birthday, there are 27 ships in the fleet.
Two more – Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter – will complete their rebranding from P&O Cruises Australia and join the fleet before the end of March.
Carnival Celebration Docked in Miami (Photo Credit: Just dance)
During Carnival Cruise Line’s first five years, the line grew to three ships – Mardi Gras, Carnivale, and Festivale. All three were former ships from other lines, rebranded as Carnival ships.
Within five years of the line’s 53rd birthday – taking us to March 11, 2030 – two more Excel-class ships, sister ships to the new, modern Mardi Gras – will join the fleet, along with the first of a brand new class, the largest ever built for Carnival, in 2029. Two more vessels of the new ship class will debut in 2031 and 2033.
How will Carnival cruise fans celebrate this great birthday onboard? Perhaps with a classic Carnival warm chocolate melting cake, joining in the fun to win a coveted ship-on-a-stick, or raising a glass with the Cheers! package to toast 53 years of fun and many more years to come.
Not onboard? Try booking your next Carnival cruise in celebration of the occasion and begin your own countdown to fun!
For the second time this year, a Princess Cruises’ ship joined the long list of vessels impacted by gastrointestinal outbreaks that began at the start of the winter cruising season in late 2024.
Coral Princess experienced an onboard spread of the bug during her 16-night “Panama Canal Ocean to Ocean” voyage that departed Los Angeles on February 21, 2025.
The cruise concluded in Fort Lauderdale on March 9, 2025, but not before 69 guests out of a total 1,906 onboard reported symptoms.
The number reflects 3.62% of total guests, and cruise ships are required to report an outbreak to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) when 3% or more of passengers or crew become ill.
In this case, 13 of 895 crew members were affected by the outbreak, the report to the CDC says, representing 1.45% of the total staff.
The ship also had experienced an outbreak on her 16-night Panama Canal cruise that departed San Francisco on January 20, 2025, headed for Fort Lauderdale. The gastrointestinal bug impacted 59 of the 1,894 guests onboard, plus 12 of the 885 crew members.
The virus was reported to the CDC on January 27, 2025, less than halfway through the voyage. Crew immediately undertook a deep cleaning of the ship.
As in the earlier outbreak, the latest CDC report indicates that the likely cause of the latest bug was norovirus, which can result in diarrhea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal problems. Crew onboard the Coral-class ship, which launched in 2003, undertook cleaning and disinfection measures, while sick passengers were isolated.
The illness was reported to the CDC on March 7, 2025, just two days before the ship docked in Fort Lauderdale. The timing indicates that the lion’s share of the voyage was unaffected by the outbreak, enabling guests to enjoy most of the cruise.
The Panama Canal cruise series from Los Angeles calls at Puerto Vallarta, Huatulco, and Chiapas, Mexico; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Panama City, Panama; and Oranjestad, Aruba.
Coral Princess departed on a reverse 16-night Panama Canal cruise, from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles, as scheduled on March 9, 2025.
Outbreaks Impacted Multiple Cruise Lines During Winter Season
The outbreaks onboard Coral Princess were not the only bugs that hit Princess Cruises. The line’s Sky Princess also was impacted by a gastrointestinal illness on her January 26, 2025 Western Caribbean cruise from Fort Lauderdale.
However, in the Sky Princess case, the virus appeared just two days after departure and guests were immediately informed and advised to be vigilant about hand washing, and to report any symptoms of the illness.
During a port call in Jamaica on January 29, 2025, the ship underwent a disinfection process. Those efforts were enough to stave off a bigger outbreak, and since the percentage of ill guests never reached 3%, no report was filed with the CDC.
CDC Facility (Photo Credit: Tada Images)
Other cruise ships haven’t been so lucky since the spate of gastrointestinal bugs began in late 2024.
In January 2025 alone, there were at least four outbreaks reported to the CDC — onboard Viking Cruises’ Viking Mars; Sea Cloud Cruises’ Sea Cloud Spirit; Silversea Cruises’ Silver Ray; and Holland America Line’s Volendam.
Even the iconic ocean liner Queen Mary 2, operated by UK-based luxury line Cunard, experienced an outbreak during a transatlantic crossing from Southampton, England, to New York in December 2024.
On that sailing, the CDC confirmed that 100 passengers out of the total 2,430, plus seven crew members out of 1,237, had caught the bug.
Coral Princess continues with her Panama Canal cruises into mid-April before shifting to the US West Coast. The ship will operate one 7-night “Pacific Wine Country” voyage and then deploy to Vancouver, British Columbia, to begin a seasonal Alaska deployment.
Sailing roundtrip from Vancouver, and between Vancouver and Whittier, Alaska, the ship will offer 7- and 14-night “Voyage of the Glaciers” cruises.
The longer itinerary will feature calls to Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, and Whittier, Alaska, and offer scenic cruising in Glacier Bay and to the Hubbard Glacier.
On Sunday, March 2, 2025, one recent Royal Caribbean passenger made a confession: She had forgotten her own suitcase in Florida’s PortMiami.
In the hustle and bustle of disembarkation, it had slipped the cruiser’s mind that she had checked her carry-on bag. Usually, she only checks her big suitcase, so it was also a break from her normal routine.
By the time she realized her mistake, several hours had passed and it was too late to return to the cruise port to retrieve her carry-on bag. She ultimately had to fly home without it and hope for the best.
After following the steps outlined by Royal Caribbean, the guest got her wish. By Tuesday, March 4, the guest’s bag had been located. On Thursday, March 6, the bag arrived at her home with no damage and no items missing.
“Finally on Tuesday the automated email title changed from “Do Not Reply” to “Your Item Has Been Found”. I followed the option to pay to ship my item. Thursday afternoon the box arrived. It was fine,”the cruiser shared in a Reddit update on March 10, 2025.
Considering the guest was initially told she would receive a response from a Royal Caribbean representative in seven to 10 days after first reaching out, the fact that her carry-on was returned to her in under a week likely means she is extra happy with the outcome.
“Yes, it cost me $73 to ship my carry-on home. I could have easily wasted that much in taxi fees by going back to the terminal. There was never any indication that I could have gotten back inside, past Customs and Border Control, and to the actual spot where leftover luggage was corralled,”she continued.
Per company policy, Royal Caribbean will ship lost items home to guests at the passenger’s expense. There is no fee to search for the missing item, but its owner must pay shipping costs.
That said, there are some situations where items may be delayed or undeliverable due to Customs policies and other factors – which thankfully didn’t apply to this situation.
How the Guest Helped Return Her Own Luggage
Although the cruiser made a dumb mistake that led to some hassle, she also played an active role in helping Royal Caribbean return her luggage – but without becoming rude, angry, or overbearing.
In fact, other cruise fans commended her calm response and level headedness as she explained her predicament and sought advice from the cruise community.
“The system worked. A mistake was made and the person owned it without griping about how there should have been protections against their own mistake. Solid updates. A+ no notes. Wish we could see more posts like yours here,” one person wrote in response.
So, how did the guest help herself in the end? First, she promptly filled out a short form through Chargerback.com to begin the lost and found process.
The form asks simple questions to try to locate the missing item, such as the date it was lost, sail dates, and where the item was last seen.
However, the cruiser took this a step further – likely making it easier for the Royal Caribbean team – because she was able to track her suitcase’s specific location using an Apple AirTag packed inside.
The day before it was found, she also had the foresight to upload a photo of her distinctive luggage tag, which likely made it easier to spot and identify her standard black bag.
In general, it’s a good idea to take photographs of your luggage ahead of your cruisein the event it does become lost – as it may help crew members relocate it sooner.
She ultimately ended her update with a final takeaway: “I would not recommend leaving behind luggage after a cruise, but if it should happen the chargerback system works.”
Of course, the Chargerback system that Royal Caribbean employs can also be used for more than just suitcases if you happen to lose something else onboard or in the cruise port. If this applies to you, it will likely be reassuring to hear a story with a swift and happy ending.
On February 26, 2025 while docked at Tortola, British Virgin Islands, the 4,200-passenger Norwegian Epic emitted a plume of white smoke that raised concerns among local authorities.
This prompted the Environmental Health Division (EHD) to conduct an evaluation of the emissions to ensure no harmful chemicals were being released.
According to a statement issued by the government on February 27, 2025, the assessment tested the smoke for various hazardous substances — including volatile organic compounds, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter.
“This was to ensure that the air quality was not being compromised by the ship’s emissions,”the government statement added, elaborating the reasoning behind the assessment.
Soon after, the EHD announced that the results from the tests were within normal range — proving that the smoke did not pose any threat to passengers or residents of the island.
The EHD report clarified, “The visible plume is primarily composed of water vapor, a by-product of the ship’s Exhaust Gas Cleaning System (EGCS), commonly referred to as scrubbers.”
The IMO began adopting mandatory measures in 2011 to reduce carbon emissions — but in 2023 they adopted a revised greenhouse gas strategy, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050.
It was disclosed that Norwegian Epic’s environmental officer fully cooperated with the EHD, providing the documentation needed for the investigation — including the EGCS emissions report and a certificate of conformity.
While the vessel has been confirmed to be adhering to international environmental regulations, the EDH still recommended that the vessel switch from using scrubbers to using low-sulphur fuel while it is berthed.
This would further enhance the air quality for the port and the passengers — something that the ship’s environmental officer was willing to consider.
Until that is implemented, the plans for the ship will be to switch to marine gas oil within an hour of berthing and will revert back within an hour of departure when visiting Tortola.
Norwegian Epic’s Long Standing History with Tortola
Norwegian Epic began visiting Tortola in 2016 — just after spending 2015 at its year-round homeport in Barcelona — something uncommon for this vessel.
The only Epic class ship has mostly spent its years alternating between the Caribbean in the winter and Europe in the summer — something it still continues to do.
It is scheduled for a transatlantic crossing in April, 2025 — then the 155,873 gross ton vessel will briefly be dry docked for maintenance ahead of its summer schedule in Europe.
Norwegian Epic in Europe (Photo Credit: meunierd)
The cruise Norwegian Epic was on while it got tested by the EHD was a 7-night round-trip Caribbean itinerary out of Port Canaveral. In addition to Tortola, other stops included Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, and Great Stirrup Cay.
Tortola itself has become an increasingly popular cruise port — seeing a jump from 343,571 passengers in 2022 to 720,392 in 2023.
Tortola Pier Park opened in 2015, improving the port’s capacity by enabling modern ships to dock and accommodating 2 vessels simultaneously. Previously, the port could only handle a single small cruise ship at a time.
This so-called smoke incident comes at a time where locals at popular cruise destinations are more aware than ever that large cruise ships are impacting the surrounding areas.
Globally, many ports have started implementing limits on cruise ships due to the negative environmental impact they have — protests have even broken out, barring some vessels from even docking.
However, Tortola remains committed to welcoming cruises and plans to continue to work directly with ships such as Norwegian Epic — ones that are willing to adapt their environmental standards to make sure they can still dock while minimizing its impact on the island.
As Spain’s Balearic Islands, which includes the popular port of Majorca, brace for an expected influx of nearly 1.8 million cruise passengers in 2025, the regional government is rolling out a set of measures specifically aimed at managing that ever-growing number.
On March 7, 2025, the Balearic government, led by President Marga Prohens, decided to drastically increase the Sustainable Tourism Tax for visitors.
During the high-season months of June, July, and August, the current tax for cruise passengers on popular islands such as Mallorca and Ibiza will increase from €2 per person to €6 per day.
Outside the peak season, between March and December, passengers will continue to pay €2, with only January and February – the low season in the islands – tax-free.
This means the more than 1.8 million passengers scheduled to arrive via 541 cruises in 2025 can bring in millions.
According to Prohens, the tax hike is necessary to reduce the environmental footprint of tourism with monies raised used on sustainability projects, infrastructure improvements, and cultural heritage protection.
The call for these stringent measures has been fueled by warnings from local officials and environmental advocates about the unsustainable growth of tourism, particularly cruise vessels.
Miquel Angel Contreras, a councilor from MÉS per Palma, has been vocal about the previous administration’s “failures” to regulate the cruise industry.
“The PP has decided to leave free way to the cruise industry,” he said.
“We cannot continue accepting the collapse of our streets, the contamination of our city, and the endangerment of our natural resources while the only beneficiaries are the larger cruise liners,” said Contreras.
He highlighted the impact of cruises on the islands, pointing out the negative carbon footprint and water consumption.
Contreras says those negatives far outweigh the financial contributions of cruise ship passengers, which he cites is as low as 35 euros per person.
A Surge in Visitors and Regulations
The 2024 cruise season in the Balearic Islands saw an uptick in both cruise ship arrivals and passenger numbers, setting the stage for the new regulations.
Over the course of the year, the picturesque archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea welcomed nearly 1,500 cruise ships and 1.7 million guests – a 20 percent increase compared to 2023.
MÉS per Palma is pushing for the government to limit the number of cruise ships allowed to dock in Palma de Mallorca and to ban mega cruise ships.
Cruise Ships in the Balearic Islands (Photo Credit: Alexandre.ROSA)
In May 2024, Mayor Jaime Martinez of Palma de Mallorca echoed the call for a partial ban on cruise ships. His plan is to either limit the number of ships allowed to call or to only allow those who home port in Mallorca’s capital city.
Per a 2021 agreement, Palma allows only three vessels to dock within a 24-hour period. Ibiza allows just two. As banning cruise ships is a tougher battle for local governments, raising taxes on passengers is a growing trend.
In the Greek Isles, officials facing similar challenges to the Balearic Islands introduced a €20 fee for guests arriving by cruise ship during the peak season of 2025 to destinations like Santorini and Mykonos.
Its smaller, less-visited islands will charge a €5 fee.
Last summer’s tourism tax for peak season day visits to Venice, Italy, – €5 – was so successful in raising funds, the UNESCO World Heritage Site plans to raise it to €10 in 2025.
The tax was implemented on 29 of the island’s busiest days, raking in €2.4 million ($2.61 million).
The Balearic Islands’ cruise season typically runs from April through October, but more and more cruise lines have been arriving even earlier.
In Palma, for example, its first call – Windstar Cruises’ Star Legend – will be March 10, 2025. Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Breakaway will arrive in Ibiza on March 26.
If you’re cruising to Alaska, chances are pretty good that you’re embarking out of the Port of Seattle. Seattle is home to two main cruise terminals, Pier 91 and Pier 66.
While you can take a quick, 30-minute car-share ride from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to either pier, if you’re driving yourself to the pier rather than flying into Seattle, you’ll need a place to park.
Luckily, there are two official parking lots at the two piers, but also additional, non-official, third-party parking providers, so you have options.
If you’re cruising with Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises or Royal Caribbean, you’ll be traveling out of Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91.
Located at 2001 West Garfield Street, the terminal is easily accessible via ride-share services, an airport shuttle, and similar options, but there’s also parking available for all cruise passengers.
There is one official general parking lot, operated by Platinum Parking and Cruise Terminal of America, at this pier, with 800 secure parking spots available.
After you park, there is a complimentary shuttle that will take you from the parking lot to the terminal. The shuttle ride is about three minutes long and shuttle drivers will help you load and unload your luggage.
When you return from your cruise, you’ll head to a shuttle pick-up spot, which will then take you back to the parking lot to pick up your car. Shuttles run continuously during operating hours.
The parking fee at this lot starts at around $26 per day, and you’ll get a $1 discount per day if you book your parking online and prepay.
When you book your parking, you’ll get an option of economy, standard or premium parking. Booking a premium parking spot puts you closer to the shuttle pick-up area. Rates are adjusted for the length of stay.
Have an oversized vehicle or RV that you’ll be parking? The rate is about $40 per day for oversized vehicles under 40-feet long.
Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz
If you need to park an RV or similar oversized vehicle, you’ll have to prepay and reserve your spot online. There are no vehicle height restrictions, as the lot is open-air and uncovered.
Handicap spots are available as well, but there are no price concessions for these spots (do note that the shuttles cannot accommodate cruisers in wheelchairs, either). Additionally, no valet service is available, so expect to park your car on-site yourself.
This lot is open 7 a.m.–4 p.m. on days when cruises are leaving or entering the terminal.
Parking at Bell Street Cruise Terminal at Pier 66
Cruise Ship Docked at Port of Seattle (Photo Credit: Wirestock Creators)
If you’re sailing with Norwegian Cruise Line or Oceania Cruises, you’ll be embarking out of the Bell Street Cruise Terminal at Pier 66. Located at 2225 Alaskan Way, the pier is easily accessible via ride-shares and taxis, as well as an airport shuttle.
For on-site parking, the Bell Street Pier garage offers covered, secure parking, with 1,700 spaces. The parking garage is accessible via 9 Wall Street and the parking garage is operated by Republic Parking Northwest.
Among the garage’s spots, there are 25 handicap spots available. There is a height restriction on all spots, of 6 feet 6 inches.
Parking in the garage starts at $33 per day. The garage is open Sunday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m., and Friday and Saturday from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Off-Site Cruise Parking Options in Seattle
Vehicles Near Cruise Pier in Seattle (Photo Credit: SeaRick1)
Beyond these two official parking options, there are also multiple off-site parking options located near both the Bell Street Cruise Terminal and the Smith Cove Cruise Terminal.
Since the two cruise terminals are only about a 12-minute drive away from one another, some of these third-party, unofficial parking options may be suitable for either or both terminals.
However, that’s not the case for all, so be careful to map out how far your chosen third-party parking lot or garage is from whichever terminal you’re sailing out of.
You should especially do this if your chosen parking lot or garage doesn’t offer shuttle service.
While the two terminals are just a 12-minute drive apart, they’re a 60-minute walk apart, and you don’t want to, for example, park right next to the Bell Street Cruise Terminal, when you’re sailing out of the Smith Cove Cruise Terminal. You’ll be pretty disappointed when you realize that you need to hoof it for an hour to make your embarkation.
Seattle CruisePark
Located at 1601 West Armory Way, Seattle CruisePark offers $199 special week-long cruise parking rates and shuttle service that runs every 10 minutes. It will cost $251.40 for 14 days.
The lot provides valet service, as well as luggage assistance, and you can get a discount if you’re parking for longer than a week. The family-owned and operated, secure lot is just about a three-minute shuttle ride to Pier 91 and just about an eight-minute shuttle ride to Pier 66.
Parking at this lot frequently fills up due to its low prices and great reviews, so reserve your parking online well in advance of your cruise. You can cancel your parking reservation up to a week in advance of your reservation date.
Rightway Parking
Cruise Ships Docked in Seattle (Photo Credit: Port of Seattle)
If you don’t mind using a parking deal aggregator — similar to a travel deal aggregator, showing you the best parking deals in the area, bookable on one website or via one app — you can use Rightway Parking to find parking spots near the Seattle cruise ports.
You’ll want to be careful to choose a parking option nearest your terminal, but if you don’t mind doing that little bit of research, you can find parking deals as cheap as $8 per day.
Do note that, often, these parking aggregators will send you to public lots or garages at hotels, conference centers, etc., so don’t expect them to provide shuttle service to the terminal.
SpotHero
Cruise Ships Docked at the Smith Cove Cruise Terminal (Photo Credit: Ian Dewar Photography / Shutterstock)
SpotHero is another parking deal aggregator that allows you to search for parking options at random lots or businesses around the city. You can choose to pay at an hourly/daily rate or monthly rate.
Parking options can go as low as $10 per day, but do note that you get what you pay for. SpotHero will show you a vast array of different lots and garages — some looking more secure than others — so choose your parking spot carefully.
Also keep in mind that you won’t find shuttle service at these lots and garages, so if a lot says it’s a mile walk to the terminal, prepare to make that long walk with your luggage, unless you take a ride-share or taxi.
Hotel Cruise Parking in Seattle
Port of Seattle (Photo Credit: PT Hamilton)
Another option, if you don’t want to book with a parking deal aggregator or third-party lot, is to book a hotel ahead of or after your cruise, and then specifically ask the hotel for a park and cruise package.
I already advise cruisers to plan to arrive at their embarkation port the night before their cruise leaves anyway, as it can ensure you actually make it onto the ship.
Often, when you’re trying to fly or drive into a big city on embarkation day, unforeseen delays can arise, from bad weather canceling your flight to simple traffic congestion, and you can miss your cruise as a result.
Arriving one day in advance makes for a stress-free embarkation day.
So, if you’re planning on doing this anyway, take the extra step to specifically book a hotel that offers free or reduced-fee parking for the duration of your cruise.
One of the Seattle hotels that offers this is Hotel Andra. If you book a stay with the hotel, the property will also give you one-way shuttle service between the hotel and your cruise pier, plus 50% off valet parking during your stay and complimentary parking during the duration of your cruise.
Anyone who has been cruising for several years is very familiar with how the experience has changed over time. One such change involves the classic dinner experience, which more and more cruisers prefer to enjoy alone, rather than being seated with others.
Some cruisers still enjoy the opportunity to meet other passengers and potentially make new friends onboard, however. The distinction has been brought to the attention of John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, who has offered insights into the changing times.
“I am writing to [find] out more information about ‘Shared Tables’ at the ‘Your Time’ dining. I went [to the Main Dining Room] three nights and chose the shared table option, and every night was sat within 5 minutes, but always sat alone,”the commenter explained.
“This is not a complaint! Just curious if the system is prioritizing wait times over the desire to not sit alone for each meal.”
While Heald acknowledges that guests’ requests are considered for dining preferences, it isn’t always possible to accommodate both timing and table requests in the Main Dining Room.
“The problem with that is that even though you requested that it, maybe other people who come into the dining room don’t want it,”he noted.“Until people say yes it’s fine to have a shared table it’s not always something that’s going to happen. I have to say it’s being requested less [and] less and that makes me sad in a way.”
This would seem to be a lose-lose situation for the cruise line and how complex dining arrangements can be. If a guest requests a shared table for example, but must wait 30 minutes or longer for other travelers to make the same request, they might be upset at such a long delay.
Being seated faster, however, might mean – as Heald explained – that it isn’t possible to offer a shared table if no other passengers have requested it at the same time.
There is a solution and a way to more easily guarantee the opportunity to meet other travelers at dinner. If guests select one of the classic seating times – early seating or late seating – it is far more likely they can be assigned a shared table.
“If you would like me to have you seated with other people on your next cruise, please write to me five days before, request this along with either early or late sitting, and I will make it so,”Heald said.
This does remove the flexibility of being able to dine at different times on different cruise evenings, however. Every traveler will have to make the choice that works best for their dining preferences.
Personally, I’ve done both Your Time Dining as well as assigned seating times, generally early seating for our family’s needs.
During Your Time Dining, we can enjoy a faster meal service and make it to different onboard activities more easily. Assigned times, however, ensures us the same table and dining team each night, which can improve the personalized service. Both choices can be excellent!
Do People Still Make Friends at Meals?
Heald followed up the dining time discussion with questions to his followers about whether or not guests enjoy making new friends during meals onboard. The responses offer even more insights into today’s cruise traveler and how they like to meet new people.
Early in the morning, many people are more likely to prefer a bit of solitude before they get started on the day.
“At brunch in the dinning room, I would be more than happy to be seated with new people/new friends,”Heald posted as a question with the answers“A. Yes, that would be fine; B. I would prefer not but … I would not make a fuss; and C. Absolutely not, I do not want to share my brunch with anybody except my immediate family/friends.”
One of the most popular responses offers a fun perspective about typical morning socialization.
“C. Do not attempt small talk before my coffee,”one guest replied.
Other guests note they just aren’t as social in the morning, or they generally dislike sitting with people they don’t know. Some guests explain that they have to be social at work, and therefore on vacation prefer a more private experience.
Heald continues the discussion with a similar question about sitting with new people at dinner, with the same choices.
Surprisingly, many people still prefer not to share a table, often finding it awkward. Some guests also note that they can feel as though their meal is delayed if they are waiting for others at the same table who might show up a few minutes late or who are having more courses.
One guest notes that mealtime is a together time for their family, especially on a cruise.
“Meals are the time we can all get together. Everyone likes to do different things when on a cruise but the meals are personal for us,”they explained.
Other guests explain that in land-based restaurants they do not sit with strangers at meals, so why would it be different on a cruise ship?
Times have changed indeed, and Your Time Dining is now the most popular option for mealtimes aboard Carnival cruise ships, with many guests using the option as a way to more easily guarantee a private table.
